Herbert Smith Freehills advises on planning for £1.1 billion extension to The British Library

Leading international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has advised SMBL, a company wholly-owned by Mitsui Fudosan UK Ltd, a leading global real estate company headquartered in Tokyo, and development manager Stanhope plc on securing planning permission for the £1.1 billion extension to The British Library, a Grade I-listed building of enormous architectural and cultural significance globally.

Mitsui Fudosan confirmed its commitment to fund the development of the British Library Extension on 19 March 2025.

The project will deliver a new building for The British Library, with transformational new spaces providing enhanced learning, exhibition, events and business facilities. The building will include a range of spaces for community use, to further The British Library's "Libraries for Everyone" initiative. The project will also deliver high quality commercial and lab-enabled life sciences spaces, situating the development at the heart of Camden's Knowledge Quarter, a world class cluster of academic, cultural, research, scientific and media institutions. The design for the extension is by Stirling Prize winning architects RSHP.

The project will also deliver an underground space which is safeguarded for a possible future Crossrail 2 station, part of a long-proposed north-south rail link across London.

Planning permission for the project was granted in July 2024, following the negotiation and completion of a complex section 106 agreement which provides for the delivery of public spaces, walkways and a garden designed with the local community to provide locals with new green spaces to enjoy, in addition to a £23 million investment into much-needed affordable homes close by in Somers Town.

The Herbert Smith Freehills team was led by UK and EMEA Real Estate managing partner Matthew White and planning associate Naomi Hoggett.

Matthew White commented: "We are very proud to have advised Mitsui Fudosan and Stanhope since 2016 on this landmark extension to one of the world's greatest libraries. This project demonstrates our ability to advise on the most high-profile and complex developments, our experience in the life sciences sector, and our deep understanding of projects with high architectural, cultural and historic significance."